I feel trapped

In a box of others design

This box barely transparent

But, with each passing day it grows stronger

With each person who judges me,

With every look I gather,

With the words they say,

The box is solid now

I have a solitary window

The walls are changing

Slowly

The walls have become bars

Their opinions, thoughts, and feelings, the foundation and structure

Their disapproving eyes the warden

Their words the guards

I shiver small and frail

Like a body slowly draining of its blood

I shiver small and frail

Malnourished

Not from lack of food, but from other nourishments

Nourishments called love and acceptance,

With each passing day I wither away more and more

I fear before long I will cease to exist